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THE BAIRNIES' FEET

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 14, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 2.

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THE BAIRNIES' FEET.

By Frances W. Gibson

In a street of Glasgow City, Full of children at their play, Stooped a woman, and then something In her apron hid away.
From the poor, plain gown, her station, At a glance, could be descried, But her face, despite its sweetness, Told of honest, Scottish pride.
Then a guardian of the public, Sure some precious thing she'd found, Bade her halt, and show the treasure She had picked up from the ground.
When her apron wide she opened, He beheld a shining mass, But no gold nor gems there glittered— It was only broken glass.
To the question stern, “What value In sic-like things do ye see, Thus to take them?” came the answer, Full of sweet simplicity:
“When I saw the bonnie bairnies Rinnin' barefit i' the street, The bits o' glass I lifted, fearin' They might hurt the puir wee feet.”
O, for more such Christlike spirit, More such hearts with love replete! Then all stumbling-blocks might vanish That would “hurt the bairnies' feet.”
—Mrs. Frances W. Gibson.